How Is Revenge Justified In The Odyssey

Is Revenge Ever Justified? An epic poem, The Odyssey, is an amazing adventure of a dad and his son who deal with major problems when Odysseus tries to return to his home Ithaca, and in defeating the evil suitors that have taken over his own home Homer highlights revenge as a key detail, Odysseus battling the suitors, then Posiedon and Zeus trying to stop Odysessus from getting back to Ithaca. Through Odysseus' assassination of the suitors, Poseidon vengeance upon Odysseus, and Zeus' destruction of Odysseus ship, The Odyssey shows that revenge can lead to a greater victory. After an attack on Poseidon's son, he goes after one of the few groups of people that helped him on his way, Poseidon will get his revenge on Odysseus. Odysseus and his men

Polyphemus rolls a large boulder in front of the exit, trapping his men in a cave with a man-eating giant. After barrels full of wine and sweet talking from Odysseus, Polyphemus fell into a drunken sleep. Odysseus’ men blind Polyphemus and escape the island. Blinded, Polyphemus prays to his father, Poseidon. Poseidon tells Zeus and they plot to get back at those that helped Odysseus. “When that fine ship of those Phaeacians comes back from helping him across, I want to smash it in the sea,” (321, 150-153). Homer details Poseidon getting Zeus involved and through Poseidon's pure rage, he planned to set an example by destroying the Phaeacians that helped Odysseus get back to Ithaca. While Poseidon is plotting against Odysseus, Zeus plans to avenge Poseidon by going after his crew. This shows how good friends Zeus and Poseidon are and they both get their revenge. On Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca, he meets allies like Aelus, who helps him sail to Ithaca but also learns of Zeus’ immense power. Zeus’ hatred for Odysseus becomes too much when Poseidon tells Zeus about Odysseus blinding his son, so he plans to carry out the most severe act of revenge seen throughout the entire

(314, 414-416). The Odyssey details how Zeus was sick of Odysseus getting away without any consequences. Zeus has had enough and as the god of the sky, he uses lightning to destroy Odysseus’ ship along with his men, exacting his revenge for blinding Polyphemus. Zeus destroyed Odysseus’ ship and killed his crew. Odysseus was the only survivor and was swept into the sea. Odysseus eventually washed up on Calypso's island, imprisoning him for eight years until he could restart his trip back to Ithaca. Odysseus' deep love for Penelope and hatred for the suitors inspires him to use his creativity and skills with the bow and arrow to attempt to defeat the suitors. Odysseus and Telemachus make quick work of the suitors as they fight. “Amphinomus attacked Odysseus,” Telemachus leapt in and thrust his bronze spear through him from behind (Homer, 479, 89-92). Here Telemachus makes it clear how much he loves Odysseus, he decides to put his life in jeopardy to save his father’s life. Telemachus jumps in and fights as Odysseus uses a bow and arrow to attack the suitors. Odysseus defended his household and Telemachus showed his first gesture toward his father after seeing him again as a loving protection of his